Lesson 413 - Junior
Memory Verse
"And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life" (Revelation 13:8).
Notes
A Wicked Ruler
A time of great and terrible trouble, known as "The Great Tribulation," is coming upon the world. During that time, which is believed to be a seven-year period, a person will come into power known as the antichrist, which means one opposed to Christ. Other names given this person are: "man of sin," "beast," "prince of this world," "that Wicked," and the "son of perdition."
The Rapture of the Church will take place before or near the beginning of the Tribulation, as we studied in a previous lesson. We do not know exactly how far the "Bride" will go into the tribulation, but we know that the overcomers will be taken out of this world before the antichrist is revealed. Someone is hindering that "man of sin" from being revealed [2TS:2:6-8]). He will not be made known until after the Rapture. So if you are putting off the coming of the Lord, thinking that He shall not come until after the antichrist is known, you are wrong, for the Bible teaches us that Jesus will come before the antichrist is revealed. However, he is probably living upon the earth today.
The Spirit of God
Do you know who is holding back the powers of the antichrist? Do you know why the powers of the enemy have not already taken complete control of the world? Because the Bride of Christ and the Spirit of God are still in the earth. The full overcomers, the saints of God, who are filled with the Spirit and walking in all the light, are responsible for holding back this force of evil. They are praying that others will be saved before Jesus comes; they are working to bring that "lost sheep" back to the Fold before it is too late. Are you ready? Are you watching for the Lord's return? Is your lamp burning brightly? Is that "extra supply" of oil in your vessel?
Unbelief
"For that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first." Falling away from what? From the doctrines and teachings of the Word of God. Many people today are denying that Jesus is the Christ, or denying that He was born of the virgin Mary, or that he has power to perform miracles. But the Word teaches us that He is the divine Son of God and has power to forgive sins. "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth" [MAT:28:18]).
Many other portions of the Bible are disbelieved today. "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever" [HEB:13:8]). When He was upon the earth He healed the sick, and He still heals those who go to Him in faith. But how few today really believe and trust God!
Some boys and girls say that it is not necessary to obey the ministers or to mind their parents these days. They say it is not important to dress modestly and to shun the appearance of evil. Surely, the "falling away" has come and we can see it even in young people. A warning is given to keep in our hearts a love for the truth of God's Word, or we may be deceived.
"For the mystery of iniquity doth already work." Just to think that this was written 20 centuries ago, and if it was working then, how much more today. Someone has said that if the devil ever worked an eight-hour shift, he is now on a 24-hour shift, 365 days in the year!
Satanic Power
The antichrist will be a king in the temple at Jerusalem, "shewing himself that he is God." He will deceive the world with signs and wonders which he and the false prophets will have power to do, even to bringing down fire from heaven in the sight of men. All that live upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the Book of Life [REV:13:8]).
At first the antichrist will come into power by peaceful means, but will change his methods and become a most cruel and wicked ruler and monster. His fury will be against any Christians who are on the earth and who were not raptured with the Bride of Christ, and against the Jews. The Christians living in that terrible period will be martyred for their stand against the powers of Satan [REV:13:6-8]).
"And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
"And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name" [REV:13:16-17]).
He will have complete control with the power of life and death over his subjects. Those who refuse to obey his orders will be slain [REV:13:1-18]; [DAN:8:23-25]).
No Escape
Those who sit under the light of the Gospel now and fail to make preparation for the Rapture, will not have the strength to stand against the powers of the antichrist. Those who do not have the spiritual hunger in their heart in this dispensation, when the Holy Spirit is outpoured upon the sincere seekers, cannot expect to stand against the forces of evil in that day when the Holy Spirit is taken out of the world.
Those who take the mark of the beast will seal their own doom. To take his mark will be to accept him in the place of God and Christ; to refuse to take it will mean death [REV:13:1-18]; [REV:14:9-11]).
Divine Judgement
The Lord will pour out His judgement upon the world during the last half of this period, and it will be the most terrible time this world has ever known. Daniel pronounces it as that, and Jesus also said this [DAN:12:1]; [MAT:24:21]).
Some of these awful things are hailstorms, with single stones weighing about 56 kilograms; a rain of fire mingled with blood; locusts will come forth out of the bottomless pit. These will have power to torture for five months those who have taken the mark of the beast. These locusts will be shaped as horses, completely equipped for battle [REV:8:1-13]; [REV:9:1-12]; [REV:16:17-21]).
As if that were not enough, an army of 200,000,000 mounted on horses will be loosed upon the earth to destroy the third of all men living, by fire, smoke and brimstone that belches forth out of the horses' mouths. Earth will become a hell, because of the wickedness and plagues that torment the people [REV:9:13-19]). The sea will become as blood; the sun will have great heat to scorch men who will gnaw their tongues in pain, but still they will not repent.
Wickedness Increasing
God's Word has been and will be fulfilled. The "mystery of iniquity" is working today. Jesus said that "iniquity shall abound" [MAT:24:12]). To "abound" means to rise in waves, or to be in great plenty. Today waves of crime are sweeping through the world. Juvenile delinquents are ever increasing. In many parts of the world about 12 per cent of all boys and girls between the ages of 10 and 17 have appeared before a juvenile court at least once, according to reports. They steal automobiles, damage property, commit traffic violations, engage in gang activities, vandalism, and resort to cigarettes, alcohol and drugs. Gangs are the "most important new type of juvenile delinquency, found in nearly all parts of the world," according to the United Nations report.
A juvenile judge from Denver who long time ago visited Portland forecasted then that, juvenile delinquency would "double in the next ten years" and warned: "We'll have delinquency as long as we have people who do not care, sloppy homes, people who excuse wrongdoing, poorly trained teachers, filthy magazines and violent television programs."
When God says, "It is enough," the Son will come, with the shout of the Archangel and the trump of God, to take away those who are waiting for Him [1TS:4:13-18]). Then the powers of evil will be free to take over. The Holy Spirit in His people, so far as we know, is the only force to prevent Satan from taking full control today.
Protection or Destruction
In the days of Noah, God destroyed the world with a flood, but He spared His people by providing the ark for their safety. When God was about to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, His messengers told Lot, "Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither" [GEN:19:22]). Not until Lot was out of the city did the Lord rain brimstone and fire out of heaven upon the cities.
In the time of Moses, God sent plagues upon Egypt. The first three were: blood, frogs, and lice. Then before the next plague was sent, God said, "I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; . . . And I will put a division between my people and thy people." And He did. There followed a number of other plagues, but none of these affected God's people.
Just so we believe God has provided a means by which He will "put a division" between His own people and the sinners. The Bride of Christ will not need to go through the worst part of the Tribulation but will be raptured out of this world before that time comes. "Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast" [ISA:26:20]).
The only means of escape is through the Blood of Jesus. Those who are not saved should seek God now. Those who are saved should press in, seek the Lord for sanctification and the baptism of the Holy Ghost in order to be ready to escape the horrible things that are coming to pass. Jesus may come even while you are reading these lines. We know not when, but we do know that the day is at hand. "Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is" [MAK:13:33]).
Questions
1. By what other names is the antichrist called?
2. What will happen before he is revealed?
3. What is meant by "falling away"?
4. What great wonder will the antichrist have power to do?
5. What is meant by the mark of the beast?
6. Who will worship the antichrist?
7. Who is withholding the forces of Satan from taking full control?
8. Why is it important to have a love for the truth in our heart?
9. What are some of the things that will happen during the Great Tribulation?
10. What Scriptures teach us that the Bride of Christ shall escape these things?